Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Friends,

This week’s Gospel recounts the story of Bartimaeus, the blind man who all but insists that Jesus help him. The moment that Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is passing by, he begins to cry out to him from his heart. Even when others rebuke him and tell him to be silent, thinking him beneath Jesus’s notice, he calls all the louder--”Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”

Bartimaeus has guts, and I admire him. He is not afraid to make a scene or to humble himself in his effort to encounter Jesus. Beyond his guts, he also has tremendous faith. The Gospel says that he begins to cry out “on hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth.” He believes that the accounts about Jesus are true, and that he is the one who can transform his life and relieve his suffering. He believes this so deeply that nothing else matters--he knows that he cannot allow this opportunity to pass him by, and that if Jesus takes notice of him that it will change his entire life. And sure enough, Jesus does take notice of him. The disciples tell Bartimaeus, "Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you." Upon hearing this, the Gospel says that Bartimaeus “sprang up” to meet Jesus.

Bartimaeus has guts, he has faith, and he also takes action. Do I take the same eager action when Jesus calls me? Do I believe with the same certainty that he is the one who can transform my life? Do I have the same humility to tell Jesus from my heart, “Lord, I want to see?”

There are many areas in my life where I am blind, where I don’t have what it takes, where I am in need of Jesus’ help and healing. But I don’t know if I bring these petitions to Jesus with the faith and the urgency of Bartimaeus. In our first reading today, we hear the Lord promise countless amazing miracles to those who seek him. We have a generous, faithful God who wants to heal us and give us what we need; like Bartimaeus, sometimes all we need to do is ask.

Jule Coppa, Penn Campus Minister